3.9.14

An important principle when playing guard in jiujitsu is to keep it alive! The guard was never meant to be a defensive, stalemate position and the beautiful thing is if you play it that way, it will soon get passed.

When playing guard (open, closed, half…etc.) you should be constantly threatening with your guard attacks. The opponent sitting in your guard should never feel comfortable or confident enough to start imposing his or her game. You should immediately:

1. Break down their posture
2. Deny them their grips
3. Establish your own grips
4. Set up your attacks (sweeps, submissions or transitions)

You must remember that when you are attacking, the opponent is constantly defending and while you are both getting tired, he/she is getting far more frustrated and pressured than you.